Xewkija and the town of Pachino in Sicily recently entered into a twinning agreement. This was announced by mayor Paul Azzopardi and Pachino major Paolo Bonaiuto during a ceremony at the Museum of Sculpture in Xewkija.
The agreement follows contacts made by Dr Ray Bondin after research he had conducted revealed that a number of families from Xewkija were among the 40 families that founded Pachino in 1760.
Further research was subsequently done by Arnold Cassola and Joseph Bezzina. During a visit by the Pachino mayor to Xewkija, a book entitled Malta Pachino by Cassola and Silvio Aliffi was launched.
Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said the ministry would back the twinning agreement and undertake more projects in Xewkija.